The Rules of Professional Baseball

BrianC14 · 08-16-2008, 07:47 PM

I've just received a copy of

The Rules of Professional Baseball:
A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation
by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder

This book is a phenomenal piece of work! NFHS and NCAA references/differences as well.

Just skimming through the first few pages tells me that this book should be in every baseball umpires' library.

findit99 · 08-16-2008, 08:14 PM

Brian - I just started umpiring in Feb/March this year and its the first thing I bought. It's the best $40 I ever spent. I coached my son for 10 years and I found it amazing how many things I thought I knew but had been wrong the whole time.
http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/ebooks/rde.html

The great thing about baseball - even when you know the rules there's still so much to talk about and so much room for different approaches and interpretations.

That book and this website - two great resources.

BrianC14 · 08-16-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by findit99

Brian - I just started umpiring in Feb/March this year and its the first thing I bought. It's the best $40 I ever spent. I coached my son for 10 years and I found it amazing how many things I thought I knew but had been wrong the whole time.
http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/ebooks/rde.html

The great thing about baseball - even when you know the rules there's still so much to talk about and so much room for different approaches and interpretations.

That book and this website - two great resources.

Oh - thanks for providing the link, which I'd forgotten to include.

They also have a 10 question quiz to take, which is pretty good

http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/quiz.html

And ditto on the comment about this forum - it's where I learned about the J/R manual.

lawump · 08-17-2008, 03:01 PM

There is a reason why we never opened the Sporting News Rule Book at Joe's umpire school in 1997: because the J/R manual was better.

Brotherhood_of_Blue · 08-17-2008, 11:06 PM

If there is a MUST HAVE in the Library Section the J/R is it. In the last two weeks I just got my newest copy (200

of The BRD which cross references the J/R extensivley, and in itself is a great tool. Put them together with the books and it's amazing what you not only can find but some of the little nuances shared by the Veterans. It's a great resource for the first year guy, on up to the most experienced, especially for those that call for many different levels and leagues.

BigUmp56 · 08-18-2008, 12:00 AM

There are two other "must haves" for the library of those seriously interested in understanding the nuances of the rules. They're not easy to get a hold of, but well worth the pursuit to find.

Jim Evans Annotated

MLBUM

Tim.

heyblue26 · 08-18-2008, 11:26 AM

I got my very first J/R manual back in 2004 when I came across his site and then got the updates in 2006 & 2008. I was most thrilled when I received his manual It is one of the best that you can get It made me a better student of the game and Umpire with a better understanding of how the rules are applied correctly.

I have the Jim Evans Annotated Rules of Baseball and the 2007 MLBUM which are not easy to come buy but if you can get them do right away because they go fast.

Also the Rules and Mechanics Manual by (Wendelstedt). A couple more great manuals to have are the PBUC and the Two-Man Umpire System Manual.

Yes these are a MUST FOR the Umpire library Mr Roder has put into words that I have found to be easy to understand. We all know that the rule book of baseball is written like the IRS tax laws that no one really understands. Thanks and after you read his book and then go to the rule book you will see and appericate his work more.

Heyblue#26

Brotherhood_of_Blue · 08-18-2008, 02:31 PM

Tim,
Couldn't agree more. The JEA is aewsome, and being the History Fanatic I am it provides the historical reference material in a way like no other. I've never had the opportunity to see the MLBUM but would love to, any ideas where I could purloin one?

08-18-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianC14

Quote:

Originally Posted by findit99

Brian - I just started umpiring in Feb/March this year and its the first thing I bought. It's the best $40 I ever spent. I coached my son for 10 years and I found it amazing how many things I thought I knew but had been wrong the whole time.
http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/ebooks/rde.html

The great thing about baseball - even when you know the rules there's still so much to talk about and so much room for different approaches and interpretations.

That book and this website - two great resources.

Oh - thanks for providing the link, which I'd forgotten to include.

They also have a 10 question quiz to take, which is pretty good

http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/quiz.html

And ditto on the comment about this forum - it's where I learned about the J/R manual.

Brian.. the quiz is good.....

I like this question.. as I think you could rule both ways on it..

"R3, R1, two outs. Ground ball up the middle, just past the pitcher's right side. The shortstop gloves the ball in front of second base and attempts to tag the sliding R1 instead of tagging the base. The tag is missed, but R1 slides past the base without touching it. As R1 scrambles back to the base, the shortstop tags him before he is able to return. R3 scored before the tag was applied for the third out (a 'time play'). The defense appeals that R1 missed second base, hoping to get a force out-an 'advantageous fourth out' - to negate the run."

A...The appeal is upheld; R1 is out and the run cannot score since the third out is now a force out.

B....The appeal is not allowed, the run scores.

C....The umpire should simply call R1 out for being out of the baseline, thus avoiding this whole mess.

This i thought was a good one...LOL

umpduck11 · 08-18-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brotherhood_of_Blue

Tim,
Couldn't agree more. The JEA is aewsome, and being the History Fanatic I am it provides the historical reference material in a way like no other. I've never had the opportunity to see the MLBUM but would love to, any ideas where I could purloin one?

Keep an eye on Amazon.com. That's where I got mine.

Brotherhood_of_Blue · 08-19-2008, 01:43 AM

Thanks Duck.
Forum hopping for umpire related material is about as advanced as I get, but I'm sure I've got a 14 year old around here somewhere that should be able to find it!

HittingZone · 08-19-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

There are two other "must haves" for the library of those seriously interested in understanding the nuances of the rules. They're not easy to get a hold of, but well worth the pursuit to find.
Jim Evans Annotated
MLBUM
Tim.

Actually, both are very easy to get ahold of ... pm me and include your email address.

Forest_Ump · 08-21-2008, 04:12 PM

I bought my J/R a couple of years ago. It had the glued binding. Pages began to come loose from the binding, especially in the pitching section. I took it to Kinko's and had a spiral binding put on. Best thing you can do for this fine book. It makes flipping thru the sections very easy.

my $.02

08-16-2008, 07:47 PM	#1
BrianC14 All-Star Crew Chief Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,384 Rep Power: 106	The Rules of Professional Baseball I've just received a copy of The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder This book is a phenomenal piece of work! NFHS and NCAA references/differences as well. Just skimming through the first few pages tells me that this book should be in every baseball umpires' library.

08-17-2008, 11:06 PM	#5
Brotherhood_of_Blue Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 389 Rep Power: 27	If there is a MUST HAVE in the Library Section the J/R is it. In the last two weeks I just got my newest copy (200 of The BRD which cross references the J/R extensivley, and in itself is a great tool. Put them together with the books and it's amazing what you not only can find but some of the little nuances shared by the Veterans. It's a great resource for the first year guy, on up to the most experienced, especially for those that call for many different levels and leagues. __________________ Do Not raise your hands to a child. It leaves your mid-section exposed.

08-18-2008, 02:31 PM	#8
Brotherhood_of_Blue Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 389 Rep Power: 27	Tim, Couldn't agree more. The JEA is aewsome, and being the History Fanatic I am it provides the historical reference material in a way like no other. I've never had the opportunity to see the MLBUM but would love to, any ideas where I could purloin one? __________________ Do Not raise your hands to a child. It leaves your mid-section exposed.

08-19-2008, 01:43 AM	#11
Brotherhood_of_Blue Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 389 Rep Power: 27	Thanks Duck. Forum hopping for umpire related material is about as advanced as I get, but I'm sure I've got a 14 year old around here somewhere that should be able to find it! __________________ Do Not raise your hands to a child. It leaves your mid-section exposed.

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08-16-2008, 08:14 PM	#2
findit99 Rookie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 49 Rep Power: 0	Brian - I just started umpiring in Feb/March this year and its the first thing I bought. It's the best $40 I ever spent. I coached my son for 10 years and I found it amazing how many things I thought I knew but had been wrong the whole time. http://www.rulesofbaseball.com/ebooks/rde.html The great thing about baseball - even when you know the rules there's still so much to talk about and so much room for different approaches and interpretations. That book and this website - two great resources.

08-17-2008, 03:01 PM	#4
lawump Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 174 Rep Power: 27	There is a reason why we never opened the Sporting News Rule Book at Joe's umpire school in 1997: because the J/R manual was better.

08-18-2008, 12:00 AM	#6
BigUmp56 Moderator Moderator All-Star Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Bend In. Posts: 609 Rep Power: 10	There are two other "must haves" for the library of those seriously interested in understanding the nuances of the rules. They're not easy to get a hold of, but well worth the pursuit to find. *Jim Evans Annotated* *MLBUM* Tim.

08-18-2008, 11:26 AM	#7
heyblue26 All-Star Crew Chief Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Korea Posts: 4,362 Rep Power: 158	I got my very first J/R manual back in 2004 when I came across his site and then got the updates in 2006 & 2008. I was most thrilled when I received his manual It is one of the best that you can get It made me a better student of the game and Umpire with a better understanding of how the rules are applied correctly. I have the Jim Evans Annotated Rules of Baseball and the 2007 MLBUM which are not easy to come buy but if you can get them do right away because they go fast. Also the Rules and Mechanics Manual by (Wendelstedt). A couple more great manuals to have are the PBUC and the Two-Man Umpire System Manual. Yes these are a MUST FOR the Umpire library Mr Roder has put into words that I have found to be easy to understand. We all know that the rule book of baseball is written like the IRS tax laws that no one really understands. Thanks and after you read his book and then go to the rule book you will see and appericate his work more. Heyblue#26

08-21-2008, 04:12 PM	#13
Forest_Ump Veteran Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern CA Bay Area Age: 52 Posts: 292 Rep Power: 39	I bought my J/R a couple of years ago. It had the glued binding. Pages began to come loose from the binding, especially in the pitching section. I took it to Kinko's and had a spiral binding put on. Best thing you can do for this fine book. It makes flipping thru the sections very easy. my $.02